4/8/14

With honeybee colonies and populations at an all-time low, it's important to take small, easy steps to help them survive. If you see a colony of bees in your garden this summer, help feed them by making a simple mixture of 1 part sugar and 1 part water. Heat it until the sugar is melted, cool it and pour it into a shallow bowl. Fill the bowl with marbles so that when bees come to feed on the sugary water, they won't drown -- the marbles give them an easy place to land. The bees will drink the sugary liquid, then fly off to turn it into honey. Replace the sugar water from time to time.

4/7/14

There is a misconception that a fawn found alone in a wooded area or field has been abandoned by its mother. Instead of taking action to "rescue" the baby deer, leave it alone and keep a close watch. It is completely normal for deer to hide their fawns in shielded areas where they come back periodically throughout the day to feed and tend to them. Unless you know the mother is dead or if you see unusual behavior from the fawn (like wandering alone), it's best to leave it alone. Contact your local wildlife rehabilitation center if you do find a truly abandoned fawn.

4/6/14

Tipped over trash cans are usually the work of wild animals that are foraging for food at night. Even the tightest lid can be maneuvered open by clever animals like raccoons to get the last bits of food from last night's dinner. If you live in a wooded area prone to trash can break-ins, consider getting a smarter trash can. Rubbermaid's Animal Stopper Trash Can features a bungeelike cord in the lid that allows for easy access for humans, but is nearly impossible to access by wild animals. Even if the can is tipped over, the lid stays on tight and can't be opened by prying paws or teeth, helping to protect wild animals from hurting themselves and preventing trash being strewn all over the neighborhood.